Sheep in Mauritania
Mauritania had 11.2 million sheep in 2024, the 34th largest in the world (0.82% of the world total). Over ten years it grew by 22%. This is the highest figure on record.
The 2024 figure is estimated by FAO.
- Animals, 2024
- 11.2 million head
- World rank
- 34 of 177
- 10-year change
- +22%
- Record
- 11.2 million head
- 2024
Sheep in Mauritania, 1961–2024 (head)
Mauritania compared with the world, 2024
- Share of world total
- 0.82%
- 0.79% in 2014
- 10-year change
- +22%
- world +17%
Position in the world ranking
| # | Country | Head | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 32 | Burkina Faso | 11,543,571 | 0.85% |
| 33 | Peru | 11,278,083 | 0.83% |
| 34 | Mauritania | 11,208,099 | 0.82% |
| 35 | Yemen | 10,799,861 | 0.79% |
| 36 | Romania | 10,443,400 | 0.77% |
Map of sheep numbers by country
Share of the world total; Mauritania is outlined. Small island states are not drawn at this scale.
By year
| Year | Head | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 11,208,099 | +1.1% |
| 2023 | 11,090,055 | −0.8% |
| 2022 | 11,181,479 | +0.4% |
| 2021 | 11,137,471 | +1.4% |
| 2020 | 10,988,830 | +1.4% |
| 2019 | 10,840,008 | +2.5% |
| 2018 | 10,576,752 | +0.4% |
| 2017 | 10,534,752 | +3.0% |
| 2016 | 10,224,152 | −7.9% |
| 2015 | 11,106,000 | +21% |
| 2014 | 9,150,000 | −9.2% |
| 2013 | 10,073,318 | +3.9% |
| 2012 | 9,693,464 | +6.1% |
| 2011 | 9,136,633 | +5.0% |
| 2010 | 8,701,555 | +5.0% |
| 2009 | 8,287,195 | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 7,892,567 | −11% |
| 2007 | 8,850,000 | 0.0% |
| 2006 | 8,850,000 | 0.0% |
| 2005 | 8,850,000 | 0.0% |
| 2004 | 8,850,000 | +0.6% |
| 2003 | 8,800,000 | +0.3% |
| 2002 | 8,774,289 | +4.5% |
| 2001 | 8,396,449 | +4.5% |
| 2000 | 8,034,880 | +4.5% |
| 1999 | 7,688,880 | +12% |
| 1998 | 6,835,000 | +8.5% |
| 1997 | 6,300,000 | +1.6% |
| 1996 | 6,199,200 | +17% |
| 1995 | 5,288,000 | +0.2% |
| 1994 | 5,280,000 | 0.0% |
| 1993 | 5,280,000 | +3.5% |
| 1992 | 5,100,000 | −3.8% |
| 1991 | 5,300,000 | +3.9% |
| 1990 | 5,100,000 | +6.3% |
| 1989 | 4,800,000 | +6.7% |
| 1988 | 4,500,000 | +7.1% |
| 1987 | 4,200,000 | +2.4% |
| 1986 | 4,100,000 | +5.1% |
| 1985 | 3,900,000 | +2.6% |
| 1984 | 3,800,000 | −5.0% |
| 1983 | 4,000,000 | −24% |
| 1982 | 5,247,100 | −2.8% |
| 1981 | 5,400,000 | +3.9% |
| 1980 | 5,197,200 | +6.1% |
| 1979 | 4,900,000 | +4.3% |
| 1978 | 4,700,000 | +4.4% |
| 1977 | 4,500,000 | +7.1% |
| 1976 | 4,200,000 | +10% |
| 1975 | 3,810,000 | +8.9% |
| 1974 | 3,500,000 | −13% |
| 1973 | 4,000,000 | 0.0% |
| 1972 | 4,000,000 | −4.8% |
| 1971 | 4,200,000 | −6.7% |
| 1970 | 4,500,000 | +13% |
| 1969 | 4,000,000 | −4.8% |
| 1968 | 4,200,000 | 0.0% |
| 1967 | 4,200,000 | +5.0% |
| 1966 | 4,000,000 | +5.3% |
| 1965 | 3,800,000 | +2.7% |
| 1964 | 3,700,000 | 0.0% |
| 1963 | 3,700,000 | +2.8% |
| 1962 | 3,600,000 | 0.0% |
| 1961 | 3,600,000 | — |
Questions and answers
How many sheep are there in Mauritania?
Mauritania had 11.2 million sheep in 2024, 0.82% of the world total, according to FAOSTAT.
Where does Mauritania rank in the world by number of sheep?
Mauritania ranked 34th of 177 countries in 2024. The largest herd was in China with 13.4% of the world total.
How has the number of sheep in Mauritania changed?
It rose by 22% between 2014 and 2024, compared with +17% for the world. 2024 was the highest figure on record.
Where does this data come from?
From FAOSTAT, the statistics database of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; the 2024 figure for Mauritania is estimated by FAO. Shares, ranks and per-person figures are calculated by Husfarm.
Other large producers
Source: FAO. 2025. FAOSTAT: Crops and livestock products. Accessed on 4 November 2026. fao.org/faostat. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Charts, rankings and changes calculated by Husfarm.